DIPLOMATS fear Asian workers are being kidnapped and allegedly
tortured in "family homes" after it emerged that a man was beaten
unconscious and held captive for nearly 12 hours.The Pakistani man was allegedly abducted by two Bahrainis who held him overnight in their house in Sitra on April 15.
Javaid Masih was walking home from work in Hoora when his alleged kidnappers stepped out of a car and confronted him.
He was forced into the car and taken to their home in the village, where he was locked in a room all night.
Demanded
The 44-year-old said he overheard arguments between the men and their relatives, who demanded they release him and stop the "nonsense".
He was freed the following day after a relative of the kidnappers helped him escape.
A Pakistan Embassy official said they have been investigating the case with concerned authorities.
Embassy charge d'affaires Aurangzeb urged his nationals to travel in groups at night and avoid confrontations with thugs.
"We are following up the case with relevant ministries," he said.
"There have been in the last two years isolated cases of our nationals being attacked and we take these cases very seriously.
"We urge all Pakistanis to contact the embassy for any assistance. They should also travel in groups at night as a precautionary measure."
Mr Masih described to the GDN how he feared for his life after he was brutally attacked.
"These two youths started to punch and kick me for no reason," he said yesterday at the embassy.
"Their faces were not covered and I have never met them, yet they kept pushing me inside the car.
"One of them punched me hard in the right eye and the next thing I remember was that I was in the back seat.
"I was terrified and could not even shout in fear as they drove to the interiors of Sitra."
The men also allegedly stole his two mobile phones.
The Pakistani, who has been working in the country for more than five years, said he was then forced out of the vehicle and taken to a "family home".
"I could see they were some family members of the house as they took me to a room and locked it from outside," he said.
"I accepted that this is it. They will harm or get rid of me."
However, he said relatives of his kidnappers tried to rescue him and offered him food and water, which he did not eat.
"They were kind, especially the father of one of the men, who told them to take me back and stop this nonsense," he added.
"The father even gave me ice to stop the blood gushing out of the wound near my right eye."
He was held captive inside the room all night, until a Bahraini man unlocked the door the following morning and helped him.
"This man told me to leave immediately and I ran out of the house," he said.
He managed to walk to the main road and hitchhiked to Manama, where he contacted his employer - the owner of a restaurant he works for.
"I informed my Bahraini sponsor and we filed a police complaint," he said.
He also informed police about the location of the home, which is being investigated.
Source : GDN
